Soldier

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Warm, earthy aroma rises from the pods as Soldier drys down to a harvest-ready, uniform bean—firm, creamy-tan to light beige with a clean, classic dry-bean look.

When soaked, the seeds soften to a tender, spoonable texture that holds its shape beautifully, making them a reliable staple for hearty potfuls and slow-simmered favorites. Grow Soldier for dependable, garden-friendly production and a pantry crop you’ll reach for again and again.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Bush

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	55
Min Night Temp (°F)	45
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Soldier is a dry bean built for the long game: soak it, then let it simmer until creamy, and it keeps a neat, spoonable shape instead of turning gummy. It’s the kind of bean that plays nicely with assertive seasonings—smoke, acid, and aromatics—without collapsing into starch.

Best Uses

slow-simmered chili or ragù-style beans
creamy bean soup with a spoonable center
batch-cook for salads—beans that stay intact under vinaigrette
seasoned bean side: olive oil, garlic, and herbs simmered until creamy

Flavor Profile

warm earthy aroma nutty, classic bean flavor firm-yet-creamy tender bite after soaking holds shape without going starchy

Kitchen Pairings

onion garlic smoked paprika cider vinegar olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common problem for Phaseolus vulgaris (soldier/soup bean), and how do I manage it?

Bean plants commonly suffer from bean rust and fungal leaf spots in humid weather. Remove and destroy infected leaves early, water at the soil line (not overhead), and space plants to improve airflow; if problems spread, use a labeled copper fungicide and reapply according to the label. Also avoid working in the plants when foliage is wet to reduce spore spread.

How often should I water Phaseolus vulgaris during the main growing phase?

During flowering and pod filling (roughly mid-summer through about 60–80 days), keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) per week, adjusted for your weather. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than frequent light watering, and stop watering only if the top few inches of soil stay wet for days. Uneven moisture can cause poor pod set and fewer filling pods.

How can I tell when soldier (Phaseolus vulgaris) is ready to harvest?

For dried/pod beans, harvest when pods are fully developed and the seeds rattle inside, usually around 90 days, and the foliage is mostly dry and yellow. If you want them as fresh beans, pick pods when they’re still tender and before seeds fully harden, typically several weeks earlier than the dry-bean stage. Dry a harvested batch in a cool, airy place until pods are crisp and seeds hard.